Definition:
Connotation: “a feeling or idea that is suggested by a particular word although it need not be a part of the word's meaning”
"CONNOTATION." Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary and Thesaurus, dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/connotation. Accessed 6 Sept. 2022.
Denotation: “the main meaning of a word, not including the feelings or ideas that people may connect with the word”
"DENOTATION." Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary and Thesaurus, dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/denotation. Accessed 6 Sept. 2022.
Informal Definition:
Connotation is something suggested by a word or thing and denotation is the literal meaning of a word.
Etymology:
Connotation can be derived from the Latin word, “connotare”, which means “mark in addition”. Denotation is derived from“denotationem”, meaning “indication”. Both come from the mid-16th century, originating from medieval Latin.